Tool-bar for crawler tractors



Dec. l, 1953 L. H. KAUPKE 2,660,938

TOOL BAR FOR CRAWLER TRACTORS Filed June 23. 1949 4 sheets-snaai;

Dec. l, 1953 L. H. KAUPKEv TooL BAR Foa CRAWLER TRAcToRs A4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23. 1949 Dec. 1, 1953 H. KAUPKE TOOL BAR FOR CRAWLER TRACTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25. 1949 L. H. KAUPKE TOOL BAR FOR CRAWLER TRACTORS Dec. l, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 25. 1949 Patented Dec. 1, 1953 2,660,938V I TOOL-BARFOR CRAWLER 'raAc'roRs Lee-H.v Kaupke, StocktomCalif., assigner t'o-International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 23, 1949, Serial No. 100,77? i- 6 Claims.

.This invention `relates to agricultural implements, and particularly to tractor-mounted implements. More specically, the invention concerns a tool-bar construction for attaching im- Dlements to a tractor of the crawler or tracklaying type. f

In mounting implements upon crawler tractors rdiiculties have been experienced with earth- Working toolsbeing unable to follow in the path .of theltractor as it is steered, the result being thatan earth-penetrating implement is frequently damaged. It is especially important in this type of tractor that certain implements be able to follow the tractor without being subjected to the jerky movements participated in by the tractor` incident to the steering thereof. In certain types of implements such as a sub-soil cultivating tool it is important that the tool be able to move laterally relative to the tractor.

If such a tool were held rigid with the tractor it might be damaged, but another result is that the locked toolacts as a rudder and makes it impossible lto properly steer thetractor. It is therefore essential thatr the tool-bar carrying such a tool shouldbe allowed to move laterally when the ltractor is steered.

' In another type of implement such as rolling disks utilized in cane cultivation it Iis desirable ltha't the toolber held rigid with the tractor so that 4vbetter control ofthe tool can beobtained. It is therefore an important object of the presentfinvention to provide a novel attaching structure for use in mounting earth-working tools ofdiierent operating characteristics upon a `tractor of the crawler or track-laying type. Another vobject of the invention is to provide,

in a tool-bar attaching structure for `mounting vearth-working tools upon'a tractor, optionally op'- erable means for locking the tools against lateral movement' or for permitting movement thereof relative to the tractor.

Another object of uw invention .is to provide (c1. er1-47.16)

I2 and endless tracks I3.

12 Q e :l a present invention and wherein the implement is a sub-soiler.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1. y

Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 and showing a portion of an earth-working tool in the form of cane cultivating disks mounted upon the implement attaching structure.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig. 3 showing the locking or stop mechanism in position to hold the tool-bar against lateral swinging movement.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3. V f

Fig. 6 is a view partly in section of a portion of the attaching structure shown in Fig. 1 With`the tool-bar locks or stops engaging the tool-bar.'

Referring now to the drawings, numeral I0 designates a tractor of the track-laying or crawler type having an operators station I I, track frames Secured to the track frame I2 at each side of the tractor is a bracket I4 having a bent portion I5 supporting a transversely extending pivot pin I B upon which is pivotally mounted the forward end of one arm I'I' of a draft frame generally indicated at I8. An arm I1 is provided at each side of the tractor and these arms diverge to a location rearwardly'of `the tractor and-are connected by a cross-piece ing guide member 22 which engages the flat face in a tool-carryinglbar or frame connected' to the tractor;by pivoted links accommodating Vlateral movement of the bar, adjustable stops carried by gthelinks'movabletopositions inand out of envgagement.with the tool-bar to render the pivotal connections thereof ineffective.

., Other objects and advantages rof the invention will become clear from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l1 yisa. view in side elevation of a crawler tractor having mounted 'thereupon an implement Satf'tachingstructure embodying the-features of the of a clamp 23 secured to the arm I'I. As shown particularly well in Fig. 2, clamp 23 engages the guide member 22 to prevent lateral swinging. of

vthe draft frame I8 and to confine the arms I1 and guideY them in their vertical swinging movement.

The rear end of each of the arms I'I is provided with a bearing portion 24 which serves for the pivotal mounting therein of avertically extending pivot pinl 25.' `'Each pin 25 has pivotally mounted upon opposite` ends .thereof the forward ends of vertically spaced parallel links 25 and 21. The rear ends of links 26 and 2l are pivotally mounted in a similar manner upon opposite ends of a vertically extending pin 28 mounted in a bearing 29 carried-at each end of a transversely extending rectangularly shaped tool-.bai` 30; v'I'ool-barllis thus supported at the rea-r movement about a transverse axis, a pair of vertically spaced parallel links pivotally connected to the rear end of each said arm and extending rearwardly therefrom, a transverse tool-carrying bar pivoted to the rear ends of said links foi` lateral swinging movement therewith relative to the draft arms, means accommodating vertical movement of said draft arms for confining the latter against lateral movement relative to the tractor, and optionally operable means for rendering the parallel links rigid with the draft arms comprising laterally spaced locking members adjacent the pivotal connections between said links and the tool bar, said locking members being adjustable to a locking posi-tion between the links and the tool bar to prevent relative pivoting therebetween.

4. In an attaching structure for use in mounting earth-working tools upon a tractor, a draft frame connected to the tractor to be raised and lowered relative thereto, a transverse toolcarrying bar at the rear of the tractor, means accommodating lateral movement of the tool-bar relative to the draft frame in response to turning of the tractor for connecting the tool-bar to the draft frame, said connecting means comprising vertically spaced pairs of parallel links, each pair being pivotally connected to one end of the tool-bar and extending forwardly therefrom, means connecting the forward ends of the links to the draft frame, and a pair of laterally spaced stop members carried by each 4pair of links and engageable with the tool-bar to render the pivotal connection thereof to the links in'- effective, whereby lateral movement of the toolbar is prevented.

5. In an attaching structure for use in mounting earth-working tools upon a tractor, a draft frame connected to the tractor to be raised and lowered relative thereto, a transverse tool-carrying bar at the rear of the tractor, means accommodating lateral movement of the tool-bar relative to the draft frame in response to turn ing of the tractor for connecting the tool-ber to the draft frame, said connecting means comprising vertically spaced pairs of parallel links, each pair being pivotally connected to one end of the tool-bar and extending forwardly there upon, means connecting the forward ends of the links to the draft frame, and a pair of laterally spaced stop members carried by each pair cf links and movable between positions in engagement with and spaced longitudinally from the tool-bar, whereby the tool-bar may be optionally allowed to move laterally relative to the draft frame or prevented therefrom.

6. In an attaching structure for use in mounting earth-working tools upon a tractor, a draft frame connected to the tractor to be raised and lowered relative thereto, a transverse tool-carrying bar at the rear of the tractor, means accommodating lateral movement of the tool-bar relative to the draft frame in response to turning of the tractor for connecting the tool-bar to the draft frame, said connecting means comprising vertically spaced pairs of parallel links, each pair being pivotally connected to one end or" the tool-bar and extending forwardly thereupon, means connecting the forward ends of the links to the draft frame, a pair of vertically eX- tending members rigidly connecting each pair of links between the pivots thereof, and a reversible plate serving as an adjustable stop member removably secured to each said member and adjustable to and from a position in engagement with the tool-bar to hold the parallel links and therefore the tool-bar against lateral movement relative to the draft frame.

LEE -I. KAUPKE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS v Date 

